COVID CORNER

Last week, on Thursday 3rd February 2022, Dominica passed 1000 active cases for the first time since the pandemic started. See statistics for three days below (Figures for other days are not available).

Dominica Covid-19 cases Report: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday last week

Date; Number of New Cases; Total Active Cases;Total Covid related Deaths

Monday,31 January 204 810 51

Wednesday, 2 February 119 946 51

Thursday, 03 February 101 1005 51

(Source: Ministry of Health)

Testing Best Way to Know Difference Between Cold, Flu or COVID

Medical experts say the only way to know for sure if you have the common cold, flu or COVID-19 is to get a test because symptoms can be similar. The flu and COVID-19 have common symptoms, such as cough, fever, tiredness and muscle soreness. The viruses can all spread before people know they are sick. Many people who have COVID-19 do not feel sick but they can still spread the virus.

Important differences

The main difference with COVID-19 is people sometimes lose their ability to smell and taste. With flu, fevers are more common. With colds, people usually have throat pain or nasal congestion. The viruses are separate. It is, however, possible to become sick with more than one at the same time. Some people are calling the combination of flu and COVID-19 "flurona."

Kristen Coleman is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She said the number of people with flu and COVID-19 will increase in the coming weeks and months as the northern hemisphere enters flu season.

While tests are in short supply in some parts of the world, Coleman said the best way to find out is to visit a pharmacy, where you can be tested for both flu and COVID-19 at the same time. As soon as you know which illness you have, doctors can help with treatment. Coleman said that in normal times, laboratories can find out if you have the common cold. However, right now, most are focused on testing for COVID-19.

One way to reduce your chances of having a problem with flu and COVID is to get vaccinated, experts say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is safe to get the flu vaccine and a third COVID-19 shot, or booster, at the same time. (VOA)

Israeli study offers the strongest proof yet of vitamin D's power to fight COVID

Israel scientists say they have gathered the most convincing evidence to date that increased vitamin D levels can help COVID-19 patients reduce the risk of serious illness or death.

Researchers from Bar Ilan University and the Galilee Medical Center say that the vitamin has such a strong impact on disease severity that they can predict how people would fare if infected based on nothing more than their ages and vitamin D levels.

Lacking vitamin D significantly increases danger levels, they concluded in newly peer-reviewed research published Thursday in the journal PLOS One.

The study is based on research conducted during Israel's first two waves of the virus, before vaccines were widely available, and doctors emphasized that vitamin supplements were not a substitute for vaccines, but rather a way to keep immunity levels from falling.

Vitamin D deficiency is endemic across the Middle East, including in Israel, where nearly four in five people are low on the vitamin, according to one study from 2011. By taking supplements before infection, though, the researchers in the new Israeli study found that patients could avoid the worst effects of the disease. (The Times of Israel).